Interior women team Bakary Gassama, several others win SJAG award

Gambian international referee Bakary Papa Gassama is among several other high profile sports personalities decorated with awards by the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG) at the weekend.

The 37-year-old referee, Gassama unquestionably the highest profile sportsman in the country in terms of individual performance and achievement was handpicked for the sports personality of the year award by the SJAG.

Another Gambian referee Mawdo Jallow, a close friend to Gassama, has retained the local male referee of the year award after winning it in 2016.

This is not the first time Gassama has been considered for the award by the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG), having received a special SJAG award in 2012.

The award is meant to honour the achievements of past and present sportsmen and women for their outstanding contributions to the development and promotion of sport in The Gambia over the past 12 months.

Below is a list of other awardees from different categories:

Best local athlete: Adama Jammeh; Best foreign athlete, Omar Colley; Female volleyball team went to GAF; Best local coach went to Alagie Sarr; Best local male referee to Mawdo Jallow; Best local female referee was awarded to Jainaba Manneh; Gina Bass was named best local female athlete; Emerging talent award was given to Gambia National Beach volleyball team, while Demba Jarju of Para Olympic and Bakary Gassama received sports personality of the year and the Special awards respectively.